Remembering a Great American

In 1975, I was on trial in Wichita, Kansas for obscenity. It was a four-month trial and my brilliant lawyer Herald Farhinger was representing me. If convicted, I faced 12 to 15 years in jail. The trial took place in Wichita because the Justice Department went venue shopping. In early 1974, I was the featured Playboy Interview and that put me on the radar for the Nixon administration. I had a total of four subscribers in the entire state of Kansas, of which three were postal inspectors. It was a clear case of entrapment. The jury, which was conservative, found me guilty in 11 minutes. I knew I was doomed when the jury cried as the prosecution passed out copies of Screw. The judge, who hated me, said there would be sentencing in six months.

In the interim, Fahringer asked that letters from the community be sent to the judge so that I be treated in a fair and decent manner. People who sent letters were Hugh Hefner, Jan Wenner, Gay Talese, Ed Koch, Lynn Redgrave and Kurt Vonnegut. I had met Vonnegut several times at Elaine’s, a famous literary watering hole and always found him cordial and witty. The fact that he took the time to write to the judge and explain that I wasn’t a menace to society and was only using my first amendment rights as a U.S. citizen, in addition to his wonderful novels, contributed to my belief that he was a treasure - not only in the literary world but also in society as a whole. Though Vonnegut and I did not hang out I will always have, in my heart, a fondness and appreciation for this literary giant.

Six months later, during the sentencing, my lawyer discovered that the government tapped our phone conversations. The judge, to our shock, threw the case out because of “government misconduct” and declared a mistrial. We won the second trial, which was two years later. Though I spent millions of dollars and stressed myself to the point of near death I was proud and glad I did it.

Vonnegut was a great soldier in the army of fighting the censoring of freedom and I am saddened that the magnificent voice of Kurt Vonnegut Jr. exists no longer.